Filling machine



Oct. 31, 1939. R. B. BAGBY l 2.177.818

FILLING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 3l, 1939.

R. B. BAGBY 2,177,818

FILLING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1957 Vgn-"V47 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Bar/40er Patented Oct. 31, v1939 VUNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE Ralph B. Bagby, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 2, 1937, Serial No. 151,563

3 Claims.

the parts that the conveyor chain is stationary two thirds of the time. This is accomplished by utilizing a pawl and ratchet,` the movement of the pawl being effected by a crank. Furthermore, the mechanism is designed to provide for raising of the container so that the lling nozzle enters therein, then lowering` the container at substantially the rate of filling of the container, and then at the point Where the predetermined quantity has been delivered, suddenly dropping the container thereby breaking off the stream With no Stringing out or dripping. The desired result is best accomplished by the use of a cam having the proper shape.

A further advantage in construction consists in the provision of a resilient arm against which the cam acts withv the result that while the movement is positive, yet there is sufficient resilience to avoid breakage in case of lack of register of the containers with Athe filling and capping apparatus.

Another point of advantage in the construction is in that the containers or jars are fed and delivered at the same endof a machine, thus adapting the device for one-man operation.

Other advantages will appear hereinafter in connection with the detailed description.

My invention Will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a filling machine arranged in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of that portion of the machine relating to the automatic operation of filling and capping;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional Views on the lines 3 3; 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view onthe line 5 5 of Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2. I

In the machine of my invention I provide a frame, indicated generally by the numeral I0, the frame having a top II and a laterally disposed feed table I2. On the frame top is disposed a hopper I3, cylinder and piston I4 and a motor I5. The motor drives asprocket I6 through a suitable gear box, and a sprocket chain Il through a second sprocket Wheel drives a cam shaft I8 journalled in the frame.

At one end, the shaft I8 has a crank provided with a crank pin 9 that engages a slot 2Il`in a rocker 2l mounted on a bracket 22. The crank pin 9 travels'ina circle at uniform speed. The pivot bearing at the lower end of bracket 22 is positioned so that crank pin 9, through rocker 2|, moves link 23 to the left during 240 of the circular travel of 9, and moves 23 to the right during of the circular travel of 9. In lling such emulsions as sour cream, ice cream, mayonnaise, etc., they will break down if pumped at too high speed. That is one limitation on lling speeds. There is also a limit to the speed at which a glass or paper container can be moved intermittently, without toppling over. Since containers have to be lifted, lled and fully lowered While the conveyor is at rest, we have found that the best division of the cycle for maximum production is to have the conveyor at rest 2/3 of the cycle, and have it do its moving in 1/3 of the cycle. A link 23 connected to the free end ofV the rocker extends horizontally and is connected to an arm 24' having a pawl 25 pivoted thereto. The pawl engages successive teeth 26 on an annular ratchet,l as best shown in Fig. 5,

the ratchet being fixed to a vertical shaft 21 that carries one of the two sprockets 28 for the conveyor chain 29. This chain operates directly beneath the feed table I2 and has extended rivets or pins 30 that extend upwardly through a continuous slot 3l in the table. These pins serve as the propelling means or flights for the containers, certain of which are indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 4. The device adapts itself for feeding containers or bottles of different diameters by varying the length of the pawl 25; that is, for smaller or larger containers, the pawl 25 is replaced Awith a larger or shorter pawl. Guide flanges 32, 33 are provided on the table top for insuring travel of the containers in the desired path from the filling to the discharging points. It will be noted` by reference to Fig. 2 that the supply and discharge of the containers is at the samek end of the table and that a Workman may attend to both duties.

At the point where the material is supplied to the containers, hereafter referred to as the filling station, the table top has a circular cut-out Within which the upper end 34 of a lifter 35 is fitted. The lifter is bifurcated to permit the chain 29 to pass therethrough and the circular head is slotted to permit the conveyor pins to pass. The lifter at the filling station is actuated through a leaf spring 3S pivotally connected at One end to the lifter and at the other end to a bracket 31. The spring arm has a roller 38 intermediate its ends, the roller riding on a cam 39 xed to the cam shaft I8.

This cam is of peculiar shape as shown in Fig. 3, and designed so that after the container has been raised to receive within it the filling nozzle, it will be lowered at a rate in proportion to the lling of the container. Preferably, it will be so arranged that the nozzle will remain approximately one-half inch below the level of the material being discharged into the container. At the point il@ on the cam, the drop will be sudden, thus breaking the stream and avoiding stringing or dripping of the material. In the event there should be lack of register between the container and the filling nozzle, the resilient arm 3S will deiiect and thus avoid any breakage. Since the lifter and its filled container will drop rather suddenly, I provide a bumper Il! on the lower end of the lifter.

At the point where the cap is applied to the 2 container, hereafter referred to as the capping station, the parts are substantial?T identical, there being a lifter 42, spring arm 43 and cam M. The cam is so shaped that a rather quick movement is eiected just as the caps are seated, this being followed by a quick drop-away with an adjustable bumper not shown for cushioning the drop of the lifter.

The capper, best shown in Fig. l, is of a conventional type and since the details are not a part of this invention, it will not be described other than to state tl at the capping head @i5 is adjustably supported on a standard 48 iixed to the frame top.

In operation, bottles indicated at i? are placed between adjacent pins 3Q and between the guides 32-33 at the entrance point. The chain traveling clockwise will slide the bottles along to the filling and capping stations and deliver them at the discharge end where they may be removed by the same operator who places the empty bottles in the conveyor line.

A machine constructed as described will be found to operate continuously and eectively through long periods without attention. The conveying and capping apparatus are separate from the filling apparatus, the latter being adapted to be cleaned, sterilized and adjusted from time to time without interference with the mechanism here disclosed. Obviously the apparatus is capable of considerable modification and I do not wish to be limited, except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the cornbination of a motor-driven filling apparatus, a shaft continuously driven by the filling motor, a conveyor for moving containers toward and away from the filling nozzle of said apparatus, means including a pawl and ratchet wheel and a crank and rocker for actuating the same for operating said conveyor from said shaft by a step-by-step movement, whereby said conveyor is idle substantially two-thirds of the time, means for lifting a container from said conveyor into filling relation with a .filling nozzle on said apparatus and for lowering said container at substantially the rate material is supplied to the container during the lling operation, and a resilient arm through which the lifting movement is exerted.

2. In a device of the class described, the conibination of a motor-driven filling apparatus, a shaft continuously driven by the lling motor, a conveyor for moving containers toward and away from the filling nozzle of said apparatus, means including a pawl and ratchet wheel and a crank a id rocker for actuating the same for operating said conveyor from said shaft by a step-by-step movement, means for lifting a container from said conveyor into lling relation with a filling nozzle on said apparatus and for lowering said container at substantially the rate material is supplied to the container during the filling operation, and a resilient arm through which the lifting movement is exerted.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of motor-driven lling apparatus and capping apparatus, a shaft continuously driven by the filling motor, a conveyor .for moving containers toward and away from a single operator and passing the nlling nozzle and the capping apparatus, means for operating said conveyor from said shaft by a step-by-step movement, a pair of lifters, one at the llingstation and one at the capping station, said lifters straddling said conveyor and being operated from beneath the conveyor, cams on said shaft for raising said lifters, and resilient arms for transmitting the cam movements to the lifters.

RALPH B. BAG-BY. 

